Kentucky (1938)

Romeo and Juliet story set amidst horse racing in Kentucky. The family feud of lovers Jack and Sally goes back to the Civil War and is kept alive by her Uncle Peter.

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

Lamar Trotti (screenplay), John Taintor Foote (screenplay),

Stars:

Loretta Young, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Loretta Young	...	Sally Goodwin
Richard Greene	...	Jack Dillon
Walter Brennan	...	Peter Goodwin
Douglass Dumbrille	...	John Dillon - 1861 (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Karen Morley	...	Mrs. Goodwin - 1861
Moroni Olsen	...	John Dillon - 1938
Russell Hicks	...	Thad Goodwin Sr. - 1861
Willard Robertson	...	Bob Slocum
Charles Waldron	...	Thad Goodwin - 1938
George Reed	...	Ben
Bobs Watson	...	Peter Goodwin - 1861
Delmar Watson	...	Thad Goodwin Jr. - 1861
Leona Roberts	...	Grace Goodwin
Charles Lane	...	Auctioneer
Charles Middleton	...	Southerner

Storyline

Romeo and Juliet story set amidst horse racing in Kentucky. The family feud of lovers Jack and Sally goes back to the Civil War and is kept alive by her Uncle Peter.

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Plot Keywords:

feud | uncle | kentucky | confiscation | father son relationship | 

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Taglines:

dramatic cavalcade (from reissue print ad)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 December 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die goldene Peitsche

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 96 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on May 28, 1945 with Walter Brennan reprising his film role.

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Connections

Remade as Down Argentine Way (1940)

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Soundtracks

" (I Wish I Was in) Dixie's Land"
(1860) (uncredited)
Written by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Sung by the men in the opening scene

User Reviews

Good Film

Kentucky (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Fun film involves two horse racing families from Kentucky who have been doing battle since the start of the Civil War and it continues to the current times. Eventually opposite family members Loretta Young and Richard Greene fall in love just as the Kentucky Derby comes around where Greene tries to prove himself as a horse trainer. I was surprised to see how enjoyable thing film was and one of the big benefits is the Technicolor used in the film. These early Technicolor films are often hit and miss on how well they look but this film here is quite beautiful to look at. It's certainly one of the best looking early Technicolor films that I've seen from this period. Another nice thing are the performances, which are all a lot of fun. Neither Young nor Greene speak with a southern accent, although the screenplay gives a reason for Greene not doing so. Even with the accents being wrong, both work incredibly well together and this here helps the love story (and the fighting moments). Walter Brennan won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and he gives a fun, if over the top, performance. His redneck antics are pretty over the top but it's still fun and keeps the film moving with some nice laughs. Being from Kentucky it was great seeing how Churchill Downs looked back then as well. The stereotypes of the black servants in the film might offend some as they all come off rather dumb but so do the Southern characters.